Evans must play out of his skin against Tomic to back up his shock win

Dan Evans found himself with tennis's equivalent of the Royal Summons as he prepared for his US Open second round against Australian Bernard Tomic.

The world No 179 was invited to practise with Roger Federer on Wednesday, which is a job for which timewasters need not apply.

Federer's coach Paul Annacone used to
work for the Lawn Tennis Association and is well aware of the
23-year-old Brummie's raw ability, which will receive a fascinating test
in the Ashes-type clash against the mercurial Australian.

Chest what he needed: Evans hits his training hard

Evans's life has already changed this week to the extent that he has signed with one of tennis's biggest management agencies, Lagardere. His representative there, Stuart Duguid, said: 'He is certainly a guy with a huge amount of talent. If he gets it together he can go top 50 or better.'

Backing up a big win such as that over eleventh seed Kei Nishikori on Monday can be difficult when the experience is unfamiliar, and in Tomic he has a highly-skilled opponent who has the capacity to toy with opponents when the mood takes him.

He will probably deny Evans the kind of pace he likes, but then you never know what version of Tomic will turn up. He can beat anyone but in the Cincinnati Masters earlier this month lost in just 45 minutes to American veteran Robby Ginepri.

Someone unlikely to turn up is Tomic's notorious father John, whose global ban from tournaments is being rigorously enforced here, although he is in town and helping supervise his son's practice sessions with British hitting partner Harry Skinner.

Father Tomic is under suspension pending a court case taking place this autumn arising from an alleged assault on a former practice partner during the Madrid Open in May.

Hot stuff: Evans takes a break

Heather Watson was distraught after her first round defeat late on Tuesday night, 4-6 6-4 6-2 to in-form world No 19 Simona Halep.

However, after a difficult six months in which she has split with coach Mauricio Hadad and had a brush with glandular fever she did well to come so close, and there can be optimism that results will pick up from here.

With the women's tour wrapping up in October there is not much time left to regroup for the year, but her attacking intent under temporary guide Jeremy Bates suggests there are grounds for hoping she will get back in the top 50 next year.

Tough times: Watson was upset after her first round loss to Simona Halep

There is no doubt about the biggest new star of the Open so far: Victoria Duval, a 17 year-old of Haitian heritage who has largely learned her tennis in America. On Tuesday night she knocked out former champion Samantha Stosur and sent the Arthur Ashe arena into raptures.

With a high-pitched voice and white rimmed glasses she looks and sounds even younger than her tender years, but showed great courage on the main stadium court to beat the powerful Australian 5-7 6-4 6-4.

Watching was her father Jean-Maurice, who spent most of his life as a doctor in Haiti and had an amazing escape when his surgery collapsed upon him during the 2010 earthquake that devastated the country. Trapped under a steel beam with multiple injuries he was rescued by a neighbour and fellow doctor, who operated on him in the backyard to save his life. His injuries still prevent him from working.

I believe I can fly: Duval jumps for joy after beating Sam Stosur

The rest of the family were in America at the time, and Victoria represents the USA, having been born in Miami and partly raised in the States.

Ranked 298, she is part of a 19-strong contingent of American women in the main draw, which is encouraging for the host nation that is becoming seriously worried by its lack of home-grown male contenders.